Heat and Smoke Education

During the 2021 Northwest Heat Dome, 100 people across Washington State and 19 community members in Spokane County had heat-related deaths. This event sparked the research and response work that the Climate Resilience Project has undertaken ever since. We welcome you to explore the information we have collected and learn how you can protect yourself, family, friends, and your neighbors against the impacts of extreme heat.

Heat Factsheets

Spokane Regional Health District and the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment worked together to develop information about the symptoms of extreme heat exposure and ways that to manage your exposure. This fact sheets are available in five different languages- English, Marshallese, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian. The factsheets and much more information about staying safe during extreme heat are available on Spokane Regional Health District’s website on Extreme Heat.

Cooling resources interactive map

The Climate Resilience Project has created an interactive map to be utilized by Spokane community members seeking cooling resources, including pools, splash pads, cooling centers, and more. This map is updated regularly; if you see something that needs updated, please contact us at ClimateInstitute@gonzaga.edu.

Learn More

• Story Map on Extreme Heat in Spokane: Explore research findings on extreme heat and what our community can do to be more prepared for future heat waves.
• Spokane Beat the Heat Project Brief (video)
• Spokane Urban Heat Island Maps
• Heat Related Emergency Services Calls: Observe current statistics for heat related emergency services calls in Spokane.
• Sign-up for SNAP Weatherization Services
• Energy Assistance Appointments SNAP

Help Your Community

In summer 2023, we launched a Cooling Fund with Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP) to aid low-income Spokane residents who reach out to SNAP for access freestanding A/C or fans to help with their cooling needs. Donate to the cooling fund!

Check the Air Quality in Your Neighborhood

• Interactive wildfire and smoke tracker
• What is AQI (Air Quality Index)

County and State Smoke Guidance

• Air Quality & Wildfire FAQ | SRHD
• Wildfires, Smoke and Air Quality | SRHD
• Washington State Smoke Information Blog
• Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency

CDC Advice for Vulnerable Populations During Smoke Events

• Wildfire Smoke and People with Chronic Conditions

Find Shelter During A Smoke Event

• Spokane Hazard Sheltering

How To Prepare Your Home Before Poor Air Quality Days

DIY Box Fan Filter Air Cleaner

Other Home Health Tips

• Comprehensive home preparation tip list for all A/C system types
• Keep your indoor air as clean as possible by:
  • Not burning candles.
  • Reducing or avoiding cooking smoke.
  • Restricting aerosol use.
  • Updating/installing permanent air filters capable of filtering smoke particles.
• Mask Advice
  • Construction and Surgical masks DO NOT WORK.
    • These masks are not made to filter large particles such as sawdust and not particles as small as those in wildfire smoke.
  • Please use an N95 mask whenever possible.
  • Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Help us research air quality

The Spokane region has a robust network of outdoor air quality monitoring, but relatively little data on indoor air quality. You can buy your own Purple Air sensor to see if your personal indoor air quality is safe. If you do, be sure to register it so that it can inform the Climate Institute's research on indoor air quality.